Mobile Under-bed Storage Platform

ABSTRACT

The invention is a wheeled device that provides a base to place all items stored underneath a bed. It enables the user to: 1) fully utilize the entire space underneath their bed. 2) Organize their items in a manner of their choosing (i.e. storage containers) and quickly access those items. 3) Prevent damage to stored items as it provides a “moveable” floor (i.e. no dragging items across floor). 
     The invention provides a low profile wheeled platform by using two hinged bases together that unfold and form a single platform. Each half of the platform is supported by 4 casters each and handles located on the front serve as devices to push or pull the entire platform into place. The platform is without sides by design so that objects of any shape or size can be placed onto the platform. The invention can be folded, latched and easily transported with its handles.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/591,885, filed Jan. 28, 2012, and is entitled to thatfiling date for priority. The specification, figures and completedisclosure of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/591,885 areincorporated herein by specific reference for all purposes.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

When a person moves into a small space such as a dorm room or smallapartment, their living and storage space is limited. Therefore, theperson must store items that they need to access daily underneath theirbed. Accessing these stored items frequently poses many problems: 1)difficulty utilizing the entire space under the bed because of physicallimitations (i.e. reach, strength), 2) difficulty in organizing, quicklylocating and accessing items stored under bed and 3) damage to items andstorage containers from continued removal (i.e. dragging items orcontainers across the floor).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention, which may be called a “Mobile Under-bed StoragePlatform,” is a wheeled device that provides a base to place all itemsstored underneath a bed. It enables the user to: 1) fully utilize theentire space underneath their bed. 2) Organize their items in a mannerof their choosing (i.e. storage containers) and quickly access thoseitems by rolling the platform. 3) Prevents damage to items stored on topof the platform as it provides a “moveable” floor (i.e. no draggingitems across floor).

The invention provides a low profile wheeled platform whereby the usercan organize and “load” the platform with the user's belongings, thensimply roll it, out of sight, under the user's bed. To access the user'sbelongings, the user only has to roll the platform out from under thebed.

When a person moves into a small space such as a dorm room or smallapartment, their living and storage space is limited. Therefore, theperson must store items that they need to access daily underneath theirbed. Accessing these stored items frequently poses many problems: 1)difficulty utilizing the entire space under the bed because of physicallimitations (i.e. reach, strength), 2) difficulty in organizing, quicklylocating and accessing items stored under bed and 3) damage to items andstorage containers from continued removal (i.e. dragging items orcontainers across the floor).

Other products designed for under-bed storage such as wheeled storagebins, drawers or containers must be accessed one at a time and limit theuser to storing item that only fit within the predetermined size andconfigurations of the bins, drawers or containers. Whereas, thisinvention is a base platform that extends the length and width of mostof the available space underneath the bed, allows the user to access allof their items at one time while giving the user the opportunity todetermine how those items will be arranged and stored on the platform.Another advantage of this invention is that it allows the user to storeitems regardless of their shape or size (as long as they fit within theavailable space underneath the bed). Because it is designed with hingesconnecting the two halves of the platform, this invention can be foldedand closed making it easily transportable with the use of the dosinglatch and its handles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of the storage platform.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the storage platform.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the storage platform.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the storage platform (the opposite sideelevation is a mirror image).

Reference Number Name of Part 1 Platform 2 Swivel Caster 3 Pull/Handle 4Hinge 5 Exterior Corner Trim 6 Edge Trim 7 Tongue & Groove Edge Trim 8Latch Mechanism

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The platform 1 (shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), casters 2 (shown in FIGS. 1,2, 3 and 4), pulls handles 3 (shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4), hinges 4(shown in FIG. 4), steel corners 5 (shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), edgetrim 6 (shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), and tongue and groove edge trim 7(shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), are all necessary elements of thisinvention.

The platform 1 is constructed in two halves with sides attached thatmake the two platform halves into separate “trays”. The hinges 4 connectthe two halves of the platform 1 to make the two halves work as oneplatform and give it the ability to fold in half much like a brief case.Casters 2 are attached to the bottom of each halve of platform 1 andgive the platform 1 the ability to roll. Pulls/Handles 3 are attached tofront edge of the front side of the platform 1 to make it easy to pulland push into place. The steel corners 5 and edge trim 6 are attached tothe outside corners of the platform halves 1 for protection. The tongueand groove edge trim 7 is located along the edges of the platform 1halves' sides for protection, and along with the latch mechanism 8 worksto keep the invention closed shut and tightly when the product is in theclosed position and being stored or transported.

The platform 1 is a horizontal platform device, 30″ wide and 48″ long,designed to allow items to be store on its top side. The platform isfashioned from two equal parts and may be comprised of any hard,supportive material including but not limited to wood, metal andplastic. The platform can be left unfinished or covered with a fabric toprotect the platform 1.

The casters 2 are swivel, rubber wheeled assemblies that are mounted tothe bottom of the platform 1, with rivets, and allow the platform to berolled and easily moved over a flat surface. The casters 2 are 2″ swivelcasters with steel ball bearings that allow for the wheels to rotate 360degrees for ease of mobility.

The pulls/handles 3 are located on the front side of the platform 1halves, attached with rivets, and are used to pull and/or push thedevice as well as being used to carry the device while in its closedposition. The pulls/handles are approximately 5″ long, can be made ofmetal or plastic and are attached to the platform 1 using rivets.

The hinges 4 are mounted to the sides of the platform 1, with rivets,and are used to connect the two platform 1 halves together. The hinges 4are comprised of metal. One half of the hinge is attached to the side ofone of the platform 1 halves and the other half of the hinge is attachedto the side of the other platform 1 side. The hinges connect the twohalves of the platform 1 making it work as one unit and the hinges alsohelp to hold the two platform 1 halves together in the invention'sclosed position.

The exterior corner trim 5 and the edge trim 6 are mounted on theexterior corners and exterior edges of the platform 1. The exteriorcorner trim 5 and edge trim 6 may be comprised of metal or plastic andare attached with rivets. The exterior corner trim 5 provide structuralintegrity and protection to the exterior corners of the platform 1 andthe edge trim 6 provides protection along the length of the outsidecorners of the platform 1.

The tongue and groove edge trim 7 is attached with glue to the open edgeof the platform 1 sides. The tongue and groove edge trim can be madefrom metal or plastic and is attached with glue. The tongue and grooveedge trim provides protection to the edges of the platform 1 and alsohelps facilitate keeping the device from racking while in its closedposition.

The latch mechanism 8 is mounted to the opposite sides of the platform 1and when the device is in its closed position, the latch will helpsecure and lock the two halves of the platform 1 making it more compactand easier to transport. The latch mechanism 8 is made of metal and isattached using rivets.

The invention provides a low profile wheeled platform whereby the usercan organize and “load” the platform with the user's belongings, thensimply roll it, out of sight, under the user's bed. To access the user'sbelongings, the user only has to roll the platform 1 out from under thebed. When the device is completed, the platform 1 is made up of twoequal halves that, when folded out, make a single platform. When in theclosed position, the device is folding in half and latched togethermaking it easy to store and transport. Casters 2 are attached to thebottom of the platform 1 giving the platform the ability to roll.Pulls/Handles 3 are attached at the front edge of the platform 1 to makeit easier to pull and/or push into place. The pulls/handles 3 also areused to carry the device when it is in its closed position. Trim piecesare attached to the exterior corners and edges to protect the devicefrom normal use. A latch mechanism 8 is used to lock the device and tohelp keep it shut while the device is in its closed position.

To make this invention, one must secure the elements including theplatform 1 (multiple parts), casters 2, pulls/handles 3, hinges 4,exterior corner trims 5, edge trim 6, tongue and groove edge trim 7 andlatch mechanism 8. The first step of production requires cutting of thematerial for the platform 1; two equal pieces approximately 23.5″×30″for the platforms and 2.25″ wide pieces the same lengths of all thesides of the platform pieces. The platform pieces should be assembled tomake two equal trays. If the device is to have a fabric finish materialapplied to the top and sides of the platform pieces, this should be donenow. Next the edge trim 6 should be attached to the exterior corners andthe tongue and groove edge trim 7 should be attached to edge of thesides of the platform 1 with glue. The exterior corner trims 5 should beattached to the exterior corners with rivets. Next the casters 2 shouldbe attached to the bottom of the platform pieces (trays) using rivets.The casters 2 should be laid out so that the casters 2 installed on oneplatform piece will not interfere with the casters on the opposingplatform piece when the device is in the closed position. The hinges 4should be attached to the interior sides of each platform piece so thatthe device can both open it to make one platform surface and so that theplatform pieces can move into the closed position. The latch mechanismshould be installed to outside edge of the platform so that when thedevice is in the closed position the latch mechanism 8 can be used tosecure and lock the two platform halves together.

Once the assembly is complete, the user would unlatch the device, openit up and place the assembly on the floor at the side of the user's bed.The user would then “load” the user's items, i.e. storage containers,boxes, etc., onto the platform. Once loaded, the user would grab thepulls/handles 3 and roll the platform under the user's bed. When theuser wants to access the same belongings located on the platform, theuser simply grabs the pulls/handles 3 and rolls the platform 1 out fromunderneath the bed.

A user could also use the invention to store items below other objects,not just the user's bed, as is the original intent of this project.

I claim:
 1. A mobile under-bed storage platform, comprising of two flatplatform pieces connected together to form a single platform unit,supported by casters and includes handles for maneuverability.